Texas' Sam Ehlinger product of same high school as Drew Brees and Nick Foles

"I would not compare myself to those dudes, yet," Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger said about Drew Brees and Nick Foles.

Author:
Shawn Clynch

Published:
5:30 PM CST January 10, 2019

Updated:
1:58 PM CST January 11, 2019

AUSTIN, Texas — If anyone wasn't aware of the quarterback legacy at Austin's Westlake High School before now -- well, the entire nation will know all about it by Sunday.

Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger isn't shocked by the attention the school has received regionally and nationally this week.

"With the talent that they [Westlake's football program] produced, the special things that go on around here athletically and academically, I think it definitely deserves the recognition that it's getting," Ehlinger said.

Two names, Drew Brees and Nick Foles, are the reasons why Westlake is in the spotlight now more than ever. The two National Football League quarterbacks will make history on Sunday when they meet in the NFC divisional round playoff game between the Saints and Eagles.

It will be the first time in NFL history that two quarterbacks who are Super Bowl MVP award recipients from the same high school will meet in a playoff game.

Just like Brees and Foles, Ehlinger recently received a similar honor after the Sugar Bowl on New Year's night. University of Texas' sophomore quarterback was named the game's "Most Outstanding Player."

"It's so cool for those guys to get that opportunity to compete at the highest level, and to be able to say that I went to the same high school as them, is pretty special," Ehlinger said.

The Longhorns' QB1 has NFL potential in the future. His high school head coach, Todd Dodge, hopes Brees will continue his career long enough for Ehlinger to make it three former Chaparral quarterbacks in the NFL.

But, Ehlinger is humble and avoids any discussion about comparisons of him to Brees or Foles.

"I would not compare myself to those dudes, yet," Ehlinger said. "I've got a long ways to go to say that. But I try to combine qualities of those guys."